COLLEGE PARK, MD.-- - No. 7 Maryland (11-3) was too much for American (5-8) down the stretch as the Terps pulled off a 4-1 win in their final road contest of a three-week stretch of away games. Junior Jason Sardis (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and freshman A.J. Herrera (Albuquerque, N.M.) each scored twice in the Terrapin win, with Sardis hitting on his only two shots of the game. Hermann Trophy candidates Taylor Twellman (St. Louis, Mo.) and Nick Downing (Redmond, Wash.) also accumulated three assists each on the day.

Maryland found the net with its first two shots of the day as Sardis started off the scoring with a hard shot from 20 yards out almost fourteen minutes into the game. Twellman and Downing were credited with assists on the play.

Herrera hit one from point-blank range less than a minute and a half later to make the score a quick 2-0 lead for Maryland. The goal was Herrera's first since the Howard game on Sept. 29. Downing and Twellman paired up for the assist again on Maryland's second goal of the day. Herrera, the 1998 Parade High School Player of the Year, would score another just after the second half began when Twellman found him on a deep cross from the right side. Herrera made the deposit across the goal in the upper right hand corner of the net. Junior Rob Birch (West Islip, N.Y.) was also credited with the assist.

American scored its only goal of the day when Nino Marcantonio netted a high goal over Terp goalie Kevin Schmidt (Westfield, N.J.) off a Larry McDonald pass. Schmidt had five saves on the day and gave another solid effort in just his third career start in place of an injured Christian Lewis (Ellicott City, Md.).

Sardis finished what he started when found the net for the second time of the afternoon when Downing set up a Jason Cropley (La Canada, Calif.) breakaway. Cropley crossed it to Sardis on the left side, who fit the ball past American keeper Michael Gorsenger on a high shot to the left corner to finish the scoring for both teams.

No. 7 Maryland next hosts No. 6 Wake Forest on Saturday for a heated ACC battle with national implications. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Ludwig Field. It is the first home game the Terps have had since Oct. 2 when they started a four-game away stint. They went an impressive 4-0 during that stretch with regional wins over George Mason, American, and William & Mary in overtime, and an ACC win over North Carolina.